Ski-boot with means for actuating corresponding engaging members of ski-touring bindings

ABSTRACT

Ski-touring boot comprising a shell, a toe provided with a hole on each side for engagement with a corresponding pin of ski bindings and a sole, comprising means for guiding and actuating said pins comprising a frusto-pyramidal seat, the larger base of which forms the bottom part open below the sole and the sides of which extending in the transverse direction (Y-Y) are inclined towards the inside of the seat so as to form elements for guiding the pin in the vertical direction and the surface of which situated inside the boot is inclined upwards and outwards so as to form the element for performing opening in the transverse direction (Y-Y) of the said pins.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED ACTIONS

This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d), and/or 365(b) to Italian Patent Application Nos. MI2009A 000569, filed in Italy on Apr. 8, 2009, and MI2009A 001420, filed in Italy on Aug. 5, 2009, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

It is known in the technical sector of ski-touring that there exists the need to provide safety bindings that include a front member, or toe-piece, able to lock in position the toe of the boot, while allowing rotation thereof about a substantially horizontal axis transverse with respect to the ski, and a rear member, or heel-piece, able to co-operate with the heel of the boot so as to allow three different modes of use: release of the heel (walking mode); supporting with greater/lesser inclination of the boot (uphill mode); and locking of the heel (downhill mode).

It is also known, for example from WO 2007/10392 in the name of the same present inventor, that the toe-piece of said bindings has oppositely arranged pins which engage in the transverse direction inwards and which are able to penetrate into corresponding holes on opposite sides of an associated boot which, when the binding is closed, is constrained to the toe-piece, being able to rotate only about a transverse axis consisting of said two pins so as to allow raising of the heel and the walking movement uphill or on the flat.

These binding/boot assemblies have, however, the drawbacks at the moment of engagement resulting in particular from the difficulty of centring correctly the opposite holes of the boot with the corresponding pin which must penetrate into the said holes so as to allow safety closing of the binding.

This drawback is also made worse by the—often awkward—situation of the ski-tourer who has to perform a precise operation in critical conditions.

EP 1,559,457 also discloses a boot which, in the region of each hole for engagement with the associated engaging pin, has a recess extending vertically from the sole to the hole itself; said recess has a cross-section substantially in the form of an angled edge for forming a contact and end-of-travel shoulder in the longitudinal direction for the boot; in this way, when the latter is inserted inside the open binding with a movement in the longitudinal direction of the ski, it engages via the said contact surfaces with the respective pin of the binding against which it stops in a positive and precise manner, allowing the skier to press the boot downwards so as to close the binding and position the two opposite nibs inside the respective hole.

A boot with transverse contact seats is however practical only for positioning the boot in the longitudinal direction and only for bindings which at the time of engagement with the boot are open with the pins splayed so as to allow the toe of the boot to be positioned in the longitudinal direction; on the other hand, the known boot does not provide any useful teaching should the binding be closed as for example in the case of the toe-piece described in the already-mentioned document WO2007/10392.

SUMMARY

The present specification relates to a ski-boot with a toe having means for actuating engaging members for relative engagement with ski bindings.

One technical problem that can be addressed, therefore, is to provide a ski-touring boot which has a toe configured to allow easy, but precise and reliable, engagement with the engaging members of a corresponding ski-binding toe-piece for locking the toe of the boot in position with the rigidity normally required for such applications and with the possibility of rotating the said toe about a horizontal axis.

In addition, it also happens in practice that similar problems of rapid and reliable engagement also arise during engagement of the boot with the heel-piece of the binding, in particular if the latter is of the type with a limited amount of space.

A further technical problem that can be addressed, therefore, is that of providing a heel for a ski-boot which allows rapid, reliable and rigid engagement with the heel-pieces of safety bindings in accordance with that described in the co-pending patent application in the name of the same present inventor.

It is also desired that the boot should have a low weight and longer duration and also be easy and inexpensive to produce using standard production methods.

These results can be achieved according to the present disclosure by a ski-touring boot having a toe for engagement with corresponding pins of ski-touring bindings, including a configuration for actuating said engaging pins as described herein, and as claimed.

In general, in an aspect, embodiments of the invention can provide a ski-touring boot including a shell defining a longitudinal, transverse, and vertical axis, a sole, and a toe defining a plurality of holes for engagement with corresponding pins of a ski binding, the plurality of holes being disposed on opposing sides of the toe, wherein each of the plurality of holes is configured for guiding the corresponding pins, and wherein the toe defines each of the holes such that each of the holes comprises a frusto-pyramidal seat that includes a top part, a larger base, a back side, and opposing sides, the larger base defines an opening in the sole, the larger base having a longitudinal width greater than the top part, the opposing sides, extending along the transverse axis, are inclined towards the inside of the seat so as to form elements for guiding the corresponding pin along the vertical axis, and the back side, extending along the longitudinal axis, is inclined upwards and outwards so as to form an element to force open the pins in the transverse direction as the boot is pushed downwards into the ski binding.

Implementations of the invention may provide one or more of the following features. The top part of the frusto-pyramidal seat has an inner width slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pins. The larger base of the frusto-pyramidal seat has a width substantially corresponding to the distance between two nibs of the binding when the binding is in the closed position. The angle of inclination (α) of the back side of the pyramid frustum is between about 25° and about 80°. The angle of inclination (α) of the back side of the pyramid frustum is preferably between about 45° and about 65°. The toe is integral to the boot. The toe is formed as an external element which is configured to be fitted to the boot.

In general, in another aspect, embodiments of the invention can provide a ski-touring boot including a shell defining a longitudinal, transverse, and vertical axis, a sole, a heel including opposing sides, and a pin projecting from each of the opposing sides, each of the projections being configured to mate with an engaging member of a heel piece of a ski binding.

Implementations of the invention may provide one or more of the following features. The heel has on each opposing side an inset seat from which the pin protrudes. A depth, along the transverse axis, of each inset seat substantially corresponds to the length of the pin. A depth, along the longitudinal axis, of the said inset seats substantially corresponds to the longitudinal dimension of the engaging member of the heel piece of the ski binding. The projecting pins are independent of each other and are disposed into respective transverse seats formed in the heel. The projecting pins are formed as one piece of suitable length inserted inside a through-hole formed in the heel.

These and other features of the invention, along with the invention itself, will be more fully understood after a review of the following figures, detailed description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further details may be obtained from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment of the subject of the present invention provided with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of the toe of a boot;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the boot toe according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the boot toe according to FIG. 1

FIG. 4 shows a partial schematic view of the boot toe according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic partial cross-section along the plane indicated by V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 a shows a top view of the boot according to FIG. 1 during positioning for engagement with the toe-piece of the ski binding;

FIG. 6 b shows a partial schematic cross-section of the boot/toe-piece assembly according to FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 6 c shows a partial schematic cross-section along the plane indicated by VIc-VIc in FIG. 6 b;

FIG. 7 a shows a top view of the boot according to FIG. 1 at the end of the positioning movement for closing the toe-piece of the ski binding;

FIG. 7 b shows a partial schematic cross-section of the boot/toe-piece assembly according to FIG. 7 a and

FIG. 7 c shows a schematic partial cross-section along the plane indicated by VIIc-VIIc in FIG. 7 b;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the heel of the boot according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 a shows a schematic cross-section along the plane indicated by IX-IX in FIG. 8 of a first embodiment of the heel according to FIG. 8; and

FIG. 9 b shows a schematic cross-section along the plane IX-IX of FIG. 8 of a second embodiment of the heel according to FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the boot with heel engaged with the heel-piece of the safety binding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for providing a ski boot that includes a plurality of holes/apertures that are configured to mate with a ski binding. Preferably, the apertures defined by the boot are configured such that the shape of the aperture assists the ski-tourer in attaching the boot to the binding (e.g., by helping align a portion of the binding that is configured to mate with the boot). Other embodiments are within the scope of the invention.

For sake of convenience only, and not as a limitation, throughout the description, “top” is assumed as referring to the part for putting on the boot and “bottom” is assumed as referring to the sole part thereof, and a set of three axes, e.g., longitudinal axis X-X, transverse axis Y-Y and vertical axis Z-Z are conventionally assumed.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of a ski-touring boot is shown. The ski-touring boot includes a shell 10, a toe 20, and a reinforcing insert 30. The toe 20 is preferably shaped in a conventional manner in compliance with the corresponding DIN regulations. The reinforcing insert 30, which is preferably integral with the toe 20, can be provided with a circular hole 32 arranged on each side of the toe for insertion of a corresponding pin 52 (FIG. 6 a) projecting in the transverse direction Y-Y of each arm 51, rotating about a vertical axis 51 a, of the toe-piece 50 of a ski binding, only schematically shown in the figures. The inner diameter of the hole 32 preferably corresponds to about the outer diameter of the said pin 52.

In one embodiment, said seats 32 are connected to respective guiding and actuating apertures 30 which are preferably shaped substantially in the manner of a pyramid frustum, the bottom part 31 a of which is open underneath the sole and the top part 31 c of which is connected to said hole 32.

As can be seen from the cross-section in FIG. 4, the two transverse sides 31 b, 31 c of the seat 31 preferably have an opposite inclination with respect to the vertical axis Z-Z towards the inside of the seat, while (FIG. 5) the surface 31 d of the seat, situated inside the boot, preferably has an inclination upwards and towards the outside of each side 10 a of the toe 10. As can be seen from the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the angle of inclination (α) of the inner side 31 d is between about 25° and 80° and preferably between about 45° and 65°. Other angles outside these ranges are possible.

The top part 31 c of the pyramid frustum 31 has an inner width “L1” which is preferably slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pin 52, while the bottom base of the pyramid frustum has a width “L2” that preferably substantially corresponds to the relative distance between the two nibs 52 of the binding when in the closed position.

With the configuration of the boot described above, the preferred operating principle of the boot is as follows. Other methods of operation are possible.

The toe-piece 50 of the ski is arranged in position for engagement with the arms 51 closed. The toe 20 of the boot 10 is positioned opposite and above (in the vertical direction Z-Z) the pins 52 of the said arms 51. The sole 11 of the boot is moved downwards, so that the frusto-pyramidal seat 31 engages on top of the pin 52 (FIG. 6 b). The continued downwards pushing of the sole (FIGS. 6 b, 6 c) preferably causes the gradual downwards movement of the hole 32 towards the pin 52 with simultaneous guiding of the pin in the vertical direction performed by the two transverse sides 31 b, 31 c of the seat 31 and with simultaneous gradual pushing of the pin 52 in the transverse direction Y-Y and towards the outside of the seat 31 as a result of the inclination of the inner surface 31 d of the seat 31 on which the pin rests and slides.

This pushing force on the pin 52 preferably causes the simultaneous opening of the arms 51 of the binding toe-piece (FIGS. 7 b,7 c), allowing the boot to continue its movement downwards until the holes 32 are aligned with the respective pin 52 which, no longer pushed by the inclined surface 31 d, is able to penetrate into the respective hole, being recalled by the resilient means (e.g., a spring or other elastic material, not shown) of the toe-piece which tend to bring the arms 51 back into the closed condition in the transverse direction Y-Y. Once the pin 52 has entered into the circular seat 32 it is locked in the three directions, i.e. longitudinal direction X-X, transverse direction Y-Y and vertical direction Z-Z, remaining, however, free to rotate about the transverse axis formed by the two opposite pins 52.

It is therefore evident how, in the case of the boot provided with actuating means as described herein, easier and more reliable engagement thereof with the engaging pins of the toe-piece is possible owing to the frusto-pyramidal shape of the said guiding means, which shape preferably allows easy alignment of the toe of the boot with the pins in the vertical direction Z-Z and easy and reliable engagement of the said pins inside the respective circular seat even when the binding is closed.

Also evident is the possible advantage which is provided by easier, but precise and reliable engagement of the toe with the binding in view of the particularly difficult situation which the ski-tourer may be in when having to perform said operation (e.g., on the side of a mountain in deep snow).

Although described and illustrated in an integrated form which is provided at the time of manufacture of the boot, it is understood that the toe with shaped seat according to the invention may also incorporate an additional part to be fitted by means of screws to the toe of already existing boots. Additionally, the features described herein can be added to existing boots (e.g., by machining the described apertures into an existing boot).

As shown in FIG. 8 it is also envisaged that the boot 10 can include a heel 60 that includes a pin 61 projecting from each side 60 a of the heel. Preferably, the heel also has an inset seat 60 b with a depth in the transverse direction Y-Y substantially corresponding to the length of the pin 61 which, in this way, does not project outside the shape of the boot and has a depth in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the size of the engaging member 101 (FIG. 10) of the heel-piece 100 of a ski binding.

As shown in FIG. 9 a, it is envisaged that the projecting pins 61 can be independent of each other and forced into a respective transverse seat 60 c of the heel 60. It is also possible, however, as shown in FIG. 9 b, that the pin 161 can be formed as one unitary piece of suitable length inserted inside a through-hole 160 c in the heel, thereby simplifying the manufacture of the finished boot.

It can therefore been seen how a boot with a heel having transverse pins as described above is particularly suitable for easy and reliable engagement with corresponding engaging members 101 a of a corresponding fork element 101 of a heel-piece 100 of a ski binding.

Other embodiments are within the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, it is also envisaged that the embodiments described by way of example may have different geometrical layouts which are all equivalent in terms of the required functional features and are included within the scope of the present patent as defined by the claims which follow, such that, for example, the cross-section of the pin may be circular or polygonal.

Further, while the description above refers to the invention, the description may include more than one invention. 

1. A ski-touring boot comprising: a shell defining a longitudinal, transverse, and vertical axis; a sole; and a toe defining a plurality of holes for engagement with corresponding pins of a ski binding, the plurality of holes being disposed on opposing sides of the toe, wherein each of the plurality of holes is configured for guiding the corresponding pins, and wherein the toe defines each of the holes such that: each of the holes comprises a frusto-pyramidal seat that includes a top part, a larger base, a back side, and opposing sides; the larger base defines an opening in the sole, the larger base having a longitudinal width greater than the top part; the opposing sides, extending along the transverse axis, are inclined towards the inside of the seat so as to form elements for guiding the corresponding pin along the vertical axis; and the back side, extending along the longitudinal axis, is inclined upwards and outwards so as to form an element to force open the pins in the transverse direction as the boot is pushed downwards into the ski binding.
 2. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the top part of the frusto-pyramidal seat has an inner width slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pins.
 3. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the larger base of the frusto-pyramidal seat has a width substantially corresponding to the distance between two nibs of the binding when the binding is in the closed position.
 4. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination (α) of the back side of the pyramid frustum is between about 25° and about 80°.
 5. A boot according to claim 4, wherein the angle of inclination (α) of the back side of the pyramid frustum is preferably between about 45° and about 65°.
 6. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the toe is integral to the boot.
 7. A boot according to claim 1, wherein the toe is formed as an external element which is configured to be fitted to the boot.
 8. A ski-touring boot comprising: a shell defining a longitudinal, transverse, and vertical axis; a sole; a heel including opposing sides; and a pin projecting from each of the opposing sides, each of the projections being configured to mate with an engaging member of a heel piece of a ski binding.
 9. A boot according to claim 8, wherein the heel has on each opposing side an inset seat from which the pin protrudes.
 10. A boot according to claim 9, wherein a depth, along the transverse axis, of each inset seat substantially corresponds to the length of the pin.
 11. A boot according to claim 9, wherein a depth, along the longitudinal axis, of the said inset seats substantially corresponds to the longitudinal dimension of the engaging member of the heel piece of the ski binding.
 12. A boot according to claim 8, wherein the projecting pins are independent of each other and are disposed into respective transverse seats formed in the heel.
 13. A boot according to claim 8, wherein the projecting pins are formed as one piece of suitable length inserted inside a through-hole formed in the heel. 